SUSU brand review update: We have appointed Holdens’ agency

Recently we told you that we were reviewing different areas of the Students’ Union in line with our Vision 2020, a strategic plan designed to position us as one of the top students’ unions in the UK by 2020. Here is a key update on the SUSU brand review…

Why do we need a brand review?

The decision to review the SUSU brand is a logical and important part of the change process as we commit to gaining a deeper understanding of our 23,000 strong membership, which includes a large population of mature and international students.

The objectives of the brand review are to find the strongest identity to support our messaging and to raise the awareness of the Union’s wide range of services. We will endeavour to provide a more targeted and effective communications platform to fulfil our mission. To fulfil our mission we must reach every member.

Ok, so what’s happening?

To ensure we follow the right process, we have decided to appoint Holdens’ branding agency to carry out a review of the SUSU brand. Holdens’ is one of Manchester’s leading creative agencies and brings a wealth of experience to the project, having previously rebranded Manchester Metropolitan University Students’ Union and worked with a variety of companies such as Kellogg’s, Manchester United, SWI and The Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Ben Franklin, the Union President, says, “I look forward to working with Holdens’ to establish what our brand means to our members and how we can increase their awareness of the Students’ Union in their lives. Once we have established that, we will be in a stronger position to offer a brand that is engaging and relevant to the entirety of our membership. To that end, I think the brand review will be one of the most important projects SUSU has embarked on in recent years”.

How will I get to have a say?

We will be carrying out a detailed consultation process which will involve existing and past students, staff and University partners. This will include surveys and a series of brand workshops that will gauge perceptions of the SUSU brand and identify your expectations of what the brand should deliver in the future.

The consultation with students will start week commencing the 25th of January but don’t forget you can have your say and get in touch with us all year-round. Let us know your thoughts by getting in touch on Twitter, Facebook or you can contact the Sabbatical Officers directly via the Make a Change section of our website.